Draft EA complete for affordable housing project

A fence separates the intersection of Kaiwahine and Hale Kai streets from more than 9 acres planned for a 120-unit affordable rental housing project in this photo taken Tuesday in north Kihei. The project’s draft environmental assessment has been completed.
• The Maui News / BRIAN PERRY photo

The Maui News – A draft environmental assessment has been completed for development of the Kaiwahine Village project, a 120-unit affordable rental housing project on nearly 9.3 acres in north Kihei.

The development aims to help meet the state’s need for very-low- to moderate-income households. In 2016, state lawmakers set a goal of developing 22,500 rental units by 2026 and increased money in the state’s rental housing revolving fund to finance affordable units.

The Kihei project is proposed for triangular-shaped property, now mostly open grassland, mauka of the end of Kaiwahine Street and the Hale Piilani Subdivision.

The developer is Ikaika Ohana/A0578 Kihei L.P. Its representative, Douglas Bigley, is based in Santa Ana, Calif.

According to plans, the development would be built in two phases and target families with incomes at 60 percent or less than the area median income.

Site improvements include grading, paved roadways, and curbs, gutters and sidewalks.

The developers propose to use state financing sources, including tax-exempt bonds, low-income housing credits and the state rental housing revolving fund.

The project has urban state land classification, and it’s zoned for residential development.

The estimated cost of development is $53.9 million. Construction is planned to begin this year, and completion is targeted for 2020.

Public comments are due Feb. 7.

Comments may be sent to the applicant and project consultant. The applicant is Ikaika Ohana/A0578 Kihei L.P., Douglas Bigley, 2000 E. Fourth St., Suite 220, Santa Ana, Calif. 92705. Bigley can be reached at (714) 492-1599 or via email at dbigley@ikaikaohana.org. The consultant is Environmental Risk Analysis LLC, Rachel Okoji, 905A Makahiki Way, Honolulu 96826. Her phone number is (808) 783-6840. Her email is rachelokoji@enviroriskhawaii.com.

Comments also may be sent to the approving agency. It is the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp, 677 Queen St., Suite 300, Honolulu 96813. The contact staffer there is Janice Takahashi at (808) 587-0639 or via email at janice.n.takahashi@hawaii.gov.